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Guest Voices

Ukraine Continues To Whitewash Nazi Crimes

Thanks, in part, to people like Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, we have a picture of Ukraine as a plucky democracy, fending off the Russian bear. But you may not hear about the following from her, as she continues to provide total support to the Ukrainian regime. Ukrainian war hero-turned-lawmaker Nadiya Savchenko came under fire last […]

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Middle East

The Bizarre Saga Of Saad Hariri

It was one of the strangest incidents in the annals of the Middle East. Middle Eastern politics can often be murky, but the Saad Hariri comic opera was unprecedented in terms of its layered opaqueness. Now, more than a month after the Lebanese prime minister tendered his resignation in Saudi Arabia, only to rescind it […]

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Television

Super (Jewish) Girl

She’s supposedly the world’s strongest girl, a weightlifter who broke a powerlifting record at a remarkably young age, and who still holds three records in her masculine sport. “I love being strong, it’s empowering, ” says Naomi (Nahama) Kutin in Jessie Auritt’s fly-on-the-wall documentary, Supergirl, which will be broadcast on the PBS network on Monday, […]

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Middle East

Donald Trump’s “New Approach” To Jerusalem

Fulfilling a solemn presidential campaign promise, Donald Trump has recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and instructed the State Department to begin preparations to move the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. His historic decision, which touched off anti-American and anti-Israel demonstrations in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and a host of […]

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Guest Voices

Jerusalem’s YMCA Is A Serene Oasis

Jerusalem is, as always, much in the news these days, contested between Jews, Muslims and Christians, and fought over by Israelis and Palestinians. This has especially been the case in recent days, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that Washington will recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move its Tel Aviv embassy there. There are, […]

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Commentary

#AfterMeToo

The sordid Harvey Weinstein affair has spawned a new movement in Canada that seems to augur well for women in the workplace. #After MeToo was officially unveiled at a symposium in Toronto on December 5 and 6 sponsored by The Globe and Mail daily newspaper. It took place two months after the notorious Hollywood movie mogul […]

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Books

Arab Nationalism In The Twentieth Century

Arab intellectuals and leaders have long been animated by the holy grail of Arab nationalism, an ideology which proclaims that Arabs are one nation, glorifies Arab civilization, language and literature and espouses the necessity of a single Arab state. This utopian idea was in its heyday during Gamal Abdel Nasser’s presidency of Egypt, but in […]

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Film

Antenna, A Moody Israeli Film

Arik Rotstein’s moody Israeli film, Antenna, is ostensibly about a minor dispute concerning a cellular antenna. In actuality, it’s about family dynamics. The movie — scheduled to be screened by the Toronto Jewish Film Foundation’s Chai Tea series on Sunday, December 10 at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, 5095 […]

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Commentary

Zero Tolerance For Sexual Predators

Harvey Weinstein, the serial sexual predator, is now assured of a prominent place in the rogue’s gallery of the Hollywood film industry. Having been accused of harassment, assault and rape by a succession of aspiring and established actresses, the rapacious movie producer has been banished from his own company and the citadels of power in […]

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Travel

Daytona Beach — Birthplace Of Car Racing

Georgia Turner, a year-round resident of Daytona Beach, a resort in central Florida, was talking about its passion for stock car racing. “Racing is a big part of our heritage,” she said. Although Daytona Beach has miles of scenic beaches, fine museums and a host of eco-tourist attractions, it is still primarily known as the […]